Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-07-23

" YOU need not hesitate TO lean upon my
shoulder See, this is a good pillow. You
would be taken for my daughter"
Before the surprise in her eyes had
passed away or the crimson subsidized in her
cheek, / had said to him gruffiy enough,
This lady is my friend You will find
another seat, if you please"
=" am SO much obliged to you," she
said, turning back to me, with a convulsive
culver of the lip.
"Now, if you will allow me-" ! said,
rolling my ulster into as soft ball as pos
sible, and laying it at the end of her feet,
Just spread your handkerchief over this
rough material and you have very good
improvised pillow"
You are very kind, but ! fear you will
need the ulster"
"Not in the least. Now you need fear
nothing, for that old'-I was about to
characterize him roughly" has gone into
another car, and / shall remain in the seat
right back of YOU"
Do you 60 all the way 20 New York ~
she asked
Albany tras my destination"
a must change cars there" | knew the
poor girl was snconsciously yielding her
self to my protection. wondered if she
had observed the change Of tense, for had
resolved to go all the way to New York
rather than suffer her to be exposed to in
suits. | was fully convinced that her
, whilom companion was a wolf in sheep's
clothing His white hair was a white wig
She was too much agitated to sleep
| though she closed her eyes, as she leaned
down on the coat, rough and shaggy as il
was. Being tall, | could, without leaning
| forward, see the delicate contour of her
cheek and her wavy brown hair as it fell
over the blue-veined temples. She was
the picture of health, but had that delicate
Northern skin that shows the pulse-beat
in the temple veins. She was very quiet
for 4 time, and / thought she slept, but
soon | discovered that tears found their
| way.beneath the closed lids. She rapidly
| brushed them away, and changed her
position, to my sorrow, for after
that | could not see her face
Feigning WEAKNESS, | leaned my head
down upon the back of her seat
thus obtaining my former advantage
and was at last gratified by noting
that she slept, and that she looked pretty
in her sleep. Heretofore | had not thought
her beautiful, but sweet and wholesome
looking. / had not thought of her as a
young maiden The homage l had given
her was on account of her womanhood
She might belong to Smith or Jones; she
might be Mrs. Pleiffer or Plumbago; but
as | drank in her peace and repose, and
child-like and spiritual beauty q will ad,
nit the fact, fell in love with her there
and then, and said to myself that the
world held but one such individual, and
that | would be willing to 90 on to New
York, or from there to the ends of the
earth, if she would permit me- Sleep? |
did not close my eyes. We were steamine
| along at much too quick rate. We were
drawing too near the terminus. She started
up atfrighted that sleep had overtaken her
but seeing that | stood guard, she closed
her eyes again with genuine expression
of content. She seemed to know that close
beside her was one who had constituted
himself a vigilance committee" for her
protection.
In a wakeful but half-dreamy state
still kept my vigil, thinking such thoughts
as these: She trusts me, and glad am
that my life has nothing to hide from any
pure woman's eye. | would protect hen
through any danger. As all Gods chill.
dren are provided against. sudden attack
each by his own special weapons of defense
so He wills that His human creatures, help.
less like this one, shall have bulwarks o.
safety in human friends; and the spirit o.
Danger is disarmed by the more powerful
spirit of Love, or an interest akin to love
as in my case, awakened suddenly for hen
protection. In other countries such {
young lady would have chaperon. II
ours she is Just as safe without one. She i.
protected in most cases by her own purity
| now observed what before had not fallen
under my notice, the flash of a diamond
pin at her neck. Perhaps the old man de-
sired to possess himself of this ornament
when he offered her 50 convenient q rest
ing-place. | glanced about the ear, but
saw him nowhere. He must have gone al
the last STATEN. Stepping to the door a
moment to rouse myself by Il sniff of the
braeing air, and see if any part of the sur.
rounding country had the familiar look o.
! the olden days, and feeling, moreover
quite secure about my charge, in the be,
| lief that the old man had taken his de
parture, ! was not little surprised to hear
on opening the door to return, n frightened
shrek, which brought almost the whole
carload Of sleepy people simultaneously tC
their feet
The young lady had sprung to her feet
| and was standing ON the seat where ! had
| left her sleeping.
| swept through the crowd striking
| right and left at whatever came in my
way, and there, crouching down in the
seat, saw the veritable white head.
q am looking for that fur cap; it i:
here but before he could finish the
! sentence | had one hand on his coat-collar
the other in his hair, and brought him NJ
| by such sudden Jerk that he was well-nigf
! thr0ttled. But as he held on for dear life
to his head, | could not expose the fraud
/ there and then to my satisfaction
The conductor now appeared, much to
my relief for had observed that this ap-
parent old missionary tried to get his hand
down to his side pocket, which no doubt
| held pistols, one or more, ready for use
Observing this action, slid both my hands
I swiftly down his arms and held them
there as in vice, while the conductor adj,
dressed him. But While apparently quiet
in my hands, he would have thrown me
| by sudden backward thrust both with
| foot and hand, which showed him to be
more conversant with the ethics of the
race-course and the ring than with the
mission work which he professed. | held
him IN this persuasive way while the con-
ductor made a pretense of listening 10 his
story. Then he was induced to pass inta
another car, for the purpose of further
disclosures to this amiable worthy. who
was an adept in dealing with cranks " Of
all kinds; and We were left alone. | nj
once took my place beside her. She still
trcmbled
At last she asked timidly, Dc you think
lie Is insane?"
No, he IS villain. How did he come
| TO take your seat ~
Indeed, cannot tell; he asked no
permission, but | did not like to say he
could not have it, because he looked so
feeble. think he had lost that fur cap
Of his and he seemed to think l had it
concealed"
More likely he coveted that diamond
brooch"
"0h. forgotr' she exclaimed, suddenly
putting her hand to her neck; :. meant
TO have changed it for another, but came
away this afternoon without remembering.
Shall l take it off now, and conceal it ~
l could have smiled at her artlessness,